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Journalism

I write regularly for newspapers and magazines. I've written opinion, features and reviews for The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Guardian, Herald-Sun, BBC and ABC, among others. I'm also a feature writer for New Philosopher and Island magazines.
Some writings discuss 'big picture' philosophical ideas in daily life. Others are simply celebrations or clarifications - more literary or journalistic than philosophical. To search for a particular theme or issue, click on one of the 'popular topics' at the very bottom of the page.OPINION/REVIEWSThe Age/The Sydney Morning Herald'Meet the author: why writing is no longer just about the words' (16/5/15).'Magic pen delivers a graphic masterpiece' (7/3/15).'Austen's Fanny Price remains true to herself after two centuries' (27/9/14).'Pain comes before a punchline' (22/3/14).'Running on empty' (7/12/13).'Distraction - blame it on the mind, not the machines' (9/11/13).'Is "me time" a selfish pursuit?' (7/10/13).'Ever-present photography (and why it's a problem)' (17/9/13).'When it is and isn't political correctness' (27/8/13).'How to lose an argument before you've really started' (19/8/13).'No room for politics at the kitchen sink' (13/8/13).'Taste sours the sweetest food memories' (8/8/13).'What we can learn from Monet's garden' (31/7/13).'"Them" and "they": crutches for a limp existence' (30/7/13).'Free for all' (3/7/13).'Trivialising women in politics' (17/6/13).'Marriage: the "ball and chain"' (6/6/13).'Mind-full: adventures of a different kind' (22/5/13)'Hopefully, wonders will never cease' (5/5/13).'Gardening is child's play' (10/4/13).'The curious pleasure of cleaning up' (4/4/13).'An encyclopaedia of Janeite love' (9/2/13).'The fashion assassins' (8/1/13).'Why the ink's not yet dry' (5/1/13).'The lure of erotic fiction' (1/10/13).'Talk about food should skip the bulldust' (31/12/12).'The joy of exercise, or why life lived well means a body worked hard' (2/9/12).'Play God: say yes to organ donation' (30/8/12).'Why patience is a virtue' (4/8/12).'Why karate kids are less likely to grow up to be violent men' (8/7/12).'A little bit of hush' (5/5/12).'Cherishing the ANZAC spirit - as long as it's not going to cost' (25/4/12).'We interrupt this program for an important message on relating' (17/4/12).'Oh, he of little faith' (17/3/12).'Homeopathy is not a cure, it's water and consolation' (16/3/12).'Narcotic for the mind: inhale deeply then delete at will' (4/3/12).'Embracing spontaneity helps make holidays child's play' (23/1/12).'Caffeine less vital than the conviviality of a cuppa' (23/1/12).'Revelling without a cause can leave you low in spirit' (31/12/11).'Listen up: this rapper's the Dylan of his day' (28/11/11).'Not idle, but thinking big' (8/10/11).'Holding thoughts to the minimum' (5/10/11).'Weak and dimwitted humans in a world run by machines' (8/6/11).'Life's lessons found packed in a removalist's box' (21/5/11).'Getting to grips with unnatural urges' (30/4/11).'Familiarity breeds content for old gallery's loyal patrons' (21/4/11).'Super-rich exceptions closer to being the rule' (2/4/11).'Turn video games into more than child's play' (14/1/11).'The crisis and the cure' (1/1/11)'Spring's gentle nudge to leave winter's walls behind' (15/9/10).'Too much screen time means our lives lack dimension' (28/7/10).'Exercise your mind and the body will follow' (13/7/11).'You don't need Jesus to enjoy Christmas' (20/12/10).'Fighting can nurture the soul - just ask Plato' (27/11/10).'A balanced life holds amazing rewards' (15/11/10).'Father knows best: don't buy into this false festival' (4/9/10).'Instructive lesson in class at the auctioneers' (18/8/10).'Quiet now, your soul is healing' (17/7/10).'A little smut goes a long way' (23/6/10).'Empty pockets and wonky careers can provide a richer life' (19/5/10).'Taking a bite out of Apple's vision' (18/5/10).'In moments like these, we need mentors' (26/4/10).'Autumn glory lets us count our blessings' (2/4/10).'Forget the cheap shots, cage fighting is a virtuous sport' (12/4/10).'Channel your rage, young man' (9/01/10).'Should auld acquaintance and bad times be forgot?' (28/12/09).'An enriching, illuminating, bonding, godless Christmas' (23/12/09).'A bad review can be a learning experience (21/12/09).'The urge for single-sex fraternity will remain strong' (27/11/09).'Identifying with the victims, not the killers' (11/11/09)'Celebrity adoptions expose our hypocrisy' (14/9/09).'We don't need Dylan on satnav to be driven to distraction' (1/9/09).'Dreams don't come in installments' (18/8/09).'Reality she wrote: Austen's top tips' (7/7/09). 'Your numbers may never come up, but dream on' (2/7/09).'To remain relevant, that is the dilemma (19/5/09).'Channel the rage: teach boys to fight' (22/4/09).'Here's a thought - turn off the TV, tune into life' (24/11/08).'Driven by distraction' (5/7/08).The Guardian'Our botanic gardens are about more than prettiness, or even science' (18/5/14).'Eventually, jellyfish might rule the world. What should the art world do about it?' (19/2/14).'Why swimming is sublime' (7/2/14).'If exercise was good for Charles Darwin, it's good for all of us' (2/1/14).The Australian'The by the word, die by the sword' (16/5/15).'Forthright defence of atheism' (18/1/14).'The meaning of life? Here's the rundown' (27/4/13).'Thanks to the memory of a father who failed' (21/1/12).'The price of freedom' (7/9/11).'Open the pod bay doors, HAL' (27/8/11).'Ennui need not be dull' (19/3/11).'Research the name of the game' (2/3/11).'Philosophy as a contact sport' (8/12/10).'Merry hell' (20/12/08).The Canberra Times'An inquiring mind essential kit for travellers' (24/4/15).'When the benefit of the doubt is in order' (23/2/15).'Smacking children asks for a certain brutality' (14/2/15).'There might be two sides to climate change story, but only one is well informed' (7/2/15)'When it comes to quaffing, 'authenticity' has no taste' (9/1/15)'Sixty years on, we can learn from Ernest Hemingway's grim New Year's resolve' (2/1/15)'Civilisation, and how to cultivate it' (26/12/14)'Meeting the challenge of Christmas' (24/12/14)'Promises, promises' (9/12/14)'Celebrity culture brings out the worst in us' (2/12/14).'Political ideals of progress are impeding our advancement' (8/11/14).'Political insults have their place, but better to engage in debate' (31/10/14).'Running towards a higher level' (1/3/14).'Broadband out of whack with experts' (4/11/13).'Death penalty at odds with the value we place on life' (21/10/13).'Laptop dogs growl at cost' (22/7/13).'Spectator vitriol exposes losers off court' (17/7/13).'The "specialness" of gold class cinema' (25/5/13).'In short, what we need is more wit' (23/4/13).'Chard remains' (31/1/13).'Intensity of friendships reveals a reflection of our true selves' (4/1/13).'Desire is never just a walk in the park' (27/12/12).'Deep thoughts on nature's way' (12/12/12).'Laughter: antidote to a crazy world' (21/11/12).'Politics: the good, the bad and ugly' (13/11/12).'Turnips for work; chestnuts for play' (3/10/12).'Shining a light on real values' (28/10/12).'Intellectual ambition rarely appears on the box' (24/10/12).'Every good boy deserves to...become better' (9/10/12).'Satire the perfect way to test huffiness of today' (6/10/12).'For sale: traditional values. Well used. Still loved' (3/10/12).'More than promises broken when politicians recant' (28/9/12).'Glamour can't disguise the fact that sex is still about power' (12/9/12).'Malicious web trolls are petty, broken human beings' (8/9/12).'Much in human nature that is dim, blind and cruel' (3/9/12).'Throwing the book at literary prejudice' (27/8/12).'Political lessons to learn from the United States' (13/8/12).'Limiting exposure to the commercial cacophony' (6/8/12).'The politics of bashing those down on their luck' (27/7/12).'More than mere child's play' (16/7/12).'Too easy for Google stuff to fill our vacant minds' (13/7/12).'Papers need to lift debate standards' (9/7/12).'To tax is to share, not to punish' (19/6/12).'A healthy civilisation needs writers -- and readers' (7/6/12).'Good, the bad, and the ugly: the blog's here to stay' (24/5/12).'Never mind the quality, feel the art's price' (14/5/12).'Gossip is easy and addictive, but also unhealthy' (3/5/12).'We are dehumanised by automatic work processes' (24/4/12).'Why grandmothers are key to familial wellbeing' (16/4/12).'Savouring the magic of the local bookshop' (2/4/12).'Fun between the covers with long-dead strangers' (9/3/12).'Stop submerging status in the subservience of "sir"' (1/3/12).'Honour? Thanks but no thanks' (13/2/12).'Navigating the conditions of unconditional love' (31/1/12).'Impossible vanity of caring for everything at once' (16/1/12).'Norse lessons from across the rainbow bridge' (11/1/12).'As copyright ends, we can take the literary plunge' (6/1/12).'Nurturing a healthy lifestyle is food for thought' (3/1/12).'It's time to let the fizz out of these sickening drinks' (16/12/11).'Children's stories need a moral side' (12/12/11).'At times, pedants are just revolting' (29/11/11).'Practical, proud paths of civility' (24/10/11).'Not easy to be an older parent, but it's not selfish' (10/10/11).'Memory lane is a learning curve' (3/10/11).'The work/life divide: time to think about getting it right' (26/9/11).'Why Australia is one of the least corrupt nations' (29/8/11).'Violence runs deep within young men' (13/8/11).'Fountain of the imagination and joy in the hand' (8/8/11).'Tastes that narrate our lives' (26/7/11).'Smokers: 'liberated', but not free' (22/7/11).'Cinema puts us all on the same stage' (11/7/11).'On-the-spot fines for swearing fans the fire' (6/6/11).'Very witty Wilde, but what about this weather?' (26/5/11).'Counting the cost of credit card debt' (18/5/11).'Don't write off female front-line warriors just yet' (20/4/11).'Desperately seeking nothing of real importance' (10/4/11).'A time to plant, and a time to harvest' (7/4/11).'Families are slaves to an age of debt' (11/3/11).'Penning books for the young no life sentence' (25/2/11).'Gossip adds to woes in office' (14/2/11)'It's a juggle, but parents can love in the struggle' (7/2/11).'Internet a tool for tyranny as well as democracy' (4/2/11).'Courage keeps society a civil one' (31/1/11).'Along with our grapes, we're maturing nicely' (24/1/11).'Kicking away the crutches of luxury' (18/1/11).'Time to put down the pen and join the human race' (27/12/10).'These feet are made just for walking' (20/12/10).'The big four are well overdrawn on humanity' (10/11/10).'Why backflips by politicians are steeped in such negativity' (18/10/10).'Playing outside has many benefits' (13/10/10).ABC'Constancy or madness in the midsummer heat?' (15/1/14).'Curiosity vs celebrity: why do some reject fame?' (14/10/13).'FlexiWar: a modest proposal...' (10/7/13).'We shouldn't ask the dying to keep living' (13/5/13).'Biographical daydream' (4/1/12).'The garden in the library: Cicero and the stuff of life' (21/12/12).'Gods can teach us--just don't worship them' (7/12/12).'A myth understanding' (23/11/12).'Private faith v public faith' (9/11/12).'Critical thinking critical to teaching' (26/10/12).'An adoring family does not a feminist politician make' (9/10/12).'The "herd" instinct' (5/10/12).'The fictional universe of the spiritual illuminati' (24/9/12).'The fight for common sense' (21/9/12).'Princesses and superheroes: the consequences of gender roles' (7/9/12).'Coffee with David Hume' (23/8/12).'Everyone picks on the fat kid' (10/8/12).'Our alien and desiccated home' (30/7/12).'Is God interesting?' (27/7/12).'Surviving the suburban purgatory of the school run' (13/7/12).'Christ's love is bad medicine' (29/6/12).'The Mayans and the end of thought' (15/6/12).'A letter from a god' (1/6/12).'Darwin's modest discovery of evolution' (18/5/12).'If God is dead or dying, why criticise religion?' (4/5/12).'The Bible just isn't funny' (27/4/12).'Prayer is delusional but its power can be real' (20/4/12).'Believers share their dubious apologetics with Trekkers' (13/4/12).'Infinite debt of a Christian faith' (6/4/12)'Art without god' (30/3/12).'Universe's magnificence without the narcissistic supernaturalism' (23/3/12).'Waiting for God: an ultimate power' (16/3/12).'Liberating a popular literary invention: the Lord' (9/3/12).'Why worry about theology?' (1/3/12).'Sympathy for the devil' (24/2/12).'Religion and politics: dangers of policy based on faith' (17/2/12).'Atheism and growing up' (10/2/12).'The Ultimate Fighter, priest-style: piety and religious vice' (2/2/12).'Friends in high places' (27/1/12).'Astrology: an odd mix of humility and arrogance' (19/1/12).'The symbolism and rage of victimhood' (12/1/12).'Do scientists have faith?' (3/1/12).'The symbols of Christmas' (26/12/11).'Hitchens and infuriating faith' (22/12/11).'Martial arts and the mind' (16/12/11).'Out with the caricatures!' (9/12/11).'Politics and loyalty: to the party or the person?' (2/12/11).'What was Socrates the radical philosopher doing in Bolt's blog?' (25/11/11).'For better, for worse, for satin, for cufflinks' (18/11/11).'The world is not enough for supernaturalists' (10/11/11).'Paranormal success is a psychic's only power' (3/11/11).'Atheists, creationists and the pitfalls of public debate' (27/10/11).'God, man, and the Obedient Wives Club' (20/10/11).'Book of Jobs: electronic Eden not paradise for everyone' (11/10/11).'Communication: it's always better when we're together' (22/9/11).'A boy's world through rose-coloured glasses' (11/4/11).'Can a job really be worse than unemploymnt?' (1/4/11).'The paper's place in a digital world' (13/1/11).'The marvels of what is' (17/12/10.'Feminism: a struggle shared' (3/12/10).'Stop and think: it's World Philosophy Day' (18/11/10).'Editors: strange, misunderstood, essential' (15/11/10).'Digitally surfing the flushable sea' (20/10/10)'The wisdom of illness' (1/10/10).'Why write?' (10/9/10).'Guiltlessly myopic electioneering' (17/8/10).'Mentally sexy dads' (30/7/10).'A rhythmic, sweaty meditation' (18/6/10).'Not just for geeks' (11/6/10).'Skinny vs healthy debate' (6/4/10).'A time for reflection' (7/12/09).'When will the shallowness end?' (2/11/09).'Write on' (12/10/09).'Light bulb moment' (4/9/09).'The shape of love' (9/7/09).'Plant for the future, not the past' (17/3/09).'Junk ethics' (16/9/08).The Herald-Sun'Sweetest tastes of Easter are not found in chocolate eggs' (11/4/09).'Seasonal magic of creating happiness' (25/12/08). iPod down, stand up for a lady' (17/11/09). 'Lives driven to distraction' (22/9/08).New York Daily News (US)'Legalizing mixed martial arts in New York' (16/1/11).The West Australian'The gift of literary moonshine' (5/3/12).BBC (UK)'The distraction society' (7/5/10).Indianapolis Star (US)'Boxing is liberating for men -- and now for women' (14/4/11).ESSAYS